NII Armah Ashitey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, has called for the simplification of issuance of building permits to reduce corruption.
He alleged that the state lost GH¢300,000 (¢3 billion old cedis) through under-invoicing of building permits perpetrated by a head of department of a municipal assembly in the Greater Accra Region.
The officer, whose name is being withheld, is under investigation for allegedly issuing a building permit of ¢2 billion instead of ¢5 billion for 17 storey buildings in his municipality.
Mr Ashitey made the allegation at the first ordinary session of the Ga West Municipal Assembly last Friday.
He said the restructuring of the issuance of building permits to make the process simple would eliminate corruption and encourage more people to apply for building permits thereby reducing unauthorised structures.
The Regional Minister noted that the three months land developers had to wait to obtain approval for building permits was not good enough and explained that it should be possible for prospective developers to obtain the permits within, at most, a month.
He advised staff of assemblies in the region to desist from conniving with developers to build unauthorised structures and cautioned that those caught would be sanctioned.
He said there was a lot of revenue generating items such as property rate, development permits, fees and fines and a host of others that the assemblies could rely on to generate the required revenue.
Mr Ashitey, therefore, urged the assemblies in the region not to rely only on the District Assemblies Common Fund but evolve innovative strategies to generate enough revenue for development.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Ga West, Mr Armah Tachie, said as of June, this year, the assembly had collected GH¢332,054.61 out of a projected revenue of GH¢1,067,647.50 representing 31.1 per cent of the total budget for 2009.
He said within the same period last year the assembly realised GH¢373,589.87 out of the projected revenue of GH¢1,270,163.00 representing 29.41 per cent of the total projection.
He said the assembly had put in place a number of long-term measures to improve revenue mobilisation for next year and into the future.
Mr Tachie said the measures included the completion of the collection of data on all properties and businesses operating within the municipality and the revaluation of all properties would be completed by the end of the year to ensure realistic budget for the ensuing year.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
ENSURE FAIR COMPETITION...Veep urges telecom investors (SPREAD)
THE Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has urged investors in the telecommunications industry to ensure fair and healthy competition to enable services to be extended to all consumers, irrespective of their geographical location.
He explained that the decision to introduce competition in the telecommunications sector was informed largely by the desire to give players in the sector the opportunity to initiate technical and commercial collaboration in order to share network and infrastructural facilities.
The Vice-President said this when he officially opened the new corporate head office for tiGo at Millicom House in Accra on Wednesday.
He noted that instead of the mobile telephone service providers sharing facilities such as masts to bring down cost of infrastructure and thereby reduce cost of services and products to the benefit of the consumer, the networks had entered into a ‘mast war’.
Mr Mahama said the networks were engaged in competition with one another to erect masts and the competition was so keen that in one area one could count as many as five masts competing, with one another with every mast having its own set of generators to power it.
In an environment where the competition was healthy, he said, one mast and one generator could have been adequate to serve the needs of all the competitors to reduce waste and cut costs.
Mr Mahama, therefore, stressed the need for the operators to collaborate on a higher scale to co-locate to bring the technological and economic benefit accruing from such collective efforts to themselves, as well as consumers.
He said each operator had its major area of technical strength which, when brought under the principle of co-location, could lift Ghana to a higher technological platform to enhance deployment of Information Communication Technology (ICT)
He said quality service was crucial in the telecommunications sector and, therefore, called on the National Communications Authority (NCA) to regulate the performance of key services offered by the operators by setting standards for quality of service.
The Vice-President said the standards must enjoin the operators to submit periodic reports of their service quality as determined by the NCA.
He said Ghana’s telecommunications policies would continue to be geared towards developing a world-class telecommunications network capable of providing high quality telecommunications services at competitive prices to the benefit of the consumer.
In this connection, he said the government believed that having a good telecommunications infrastructure was one of the critical factors that would drive the country’s economic development in this era of Next Generation Network and converged telecommunications markets.
Mr Mahama commended the management of tiGo for taking advantage of the creation of the enabling environment by the Government for private sector participation to enter the telecommunications market of Ghana as the first private telecommunications company to commence investment in the mobile market segment.
The Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, assured investors in telecommunications that the government would not increase the number of operators in the mobile telephone sector to compromise the market.
He, however, reminded operators in the mobile telephone industry of government policy of encouraging the operators to have their scratch cards made locally.
Mr Mahama explained that the mobile telephone sector was an area that made use of a lot of foreign exchange of the country and having their scratch cards made locally would save foreign exchange and provide jobs for the local people.
The outgoing Chief Executive Officer of tiGo said the network would remain sophisticated but accessible saying that his outfit had re-invested its profits in the Ghanaian economy, adding that tiGo currently provided direct jobs to 450 people in the country and thousands of jobs indirectly through the sale of its products on the Ghanaian market.
Mr Christophe Soulet, the incoming Chief Executive Officer of tiGo, said since he visited the country 12 years ago, Ghana had undergone great transformation in infrastructural development.
Mr Soulet observed that Ghana was poised to lead the continent of Africa in the new ICT industry.
He explained that the decision to introduce competition in the telecommunications sector was informed largely by the desire to give players in the sector the opportunity to initiate technical and commercial collaboration in order to share network and infrastructural facilities.
The Vice-President said this when he officially opened the new corporate head office for tiGo at Millicom House in Accra on Wednesday.
He noted that instead of the mobile telephone service providers sharing facilities such as masts to bring down cost of infrastructure and thereby reduce cost of services and products to the benefit of the consumer, the networks had entered into a ‘mast war’.
Mr Mahama said the networks were engaged in competition with one another to erect masts and the competition was so keen that in one area one could count as many as five masts competing, with one another with every mast having its own set of generators to power it.
In an environment where the competition was healthy, he said, one mast and one generator could have been adequate to serve the needs of all the competitors to reduce waste and cut costs.
Mr Mahama, therefore, stressed the need for the operators to collaborate on a higher scale to co-locate to bring the technological and economic benefit accruing from such collective efforts to themselves, as well as consumers.
He said each operator had its major area of technical strength which, when brought under the principle of co-location, could lift Ghana to a higher technological platform to enhance deployment of Information Communication Technology (ICT)
He said quality service was crucial in the telecommunications sector and, therefore, called on the National Communications Authority (NCA) to regulate the performance of key services offered by the operators by setting standards for quality of service.
The Vice-President said the standards must enjoin the operators to submit periodic reports of their service quality as determined by the NCA.
He said Ghana’s telecommunications policies would continue to be geared towards developing a world-class telecommunications network capable of providing high quality telecommunications services at competitive prices to the benefit of the consumer.
In this connection, he said the government believed that having a good telecommunications infrastructure was one of the critical factors that would drive the country’s economic development in this era of Next Generation Network and converged telecommunications markets.
Mr Mahama commended the management of tiGo for taking advantage of the creation of the enabling environment by the Government for private sector participation to enter the telecommunications market of Ghana as the first private telecommunications company to commence investment in the mobile market segment.
The Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, assured investors in telecommunications that the government would not increase the number of operators in the mobile telephone sector to compromise the market.
He, however, reminded operators in the mobile telephone industry of government policy of encouraging the operators to have their scratch cards made locally.
Mr Mahama explained that the mobile telephone sector was an area that made use of a lot of foreign exchange of the country and having their scratch cards made locally would save foreign exchange and provide jobs for the local people.
The outgoing Chief Executive Officer of tiGo said the network would remain sophisticated but accessible saying that his outfit had re-invested its profits in the Ghanaian economy, adding that tiGo currently provided direct jobs to 450 people in the country and thousands of jobs indirectly through the sale of its products on the Ghanaian market.
Mr Christophe Soulet, the incoming Chief Executive Officer of tiGo, said since he visited the country 12 years ago, Ghana had undergone great transformation in infrastructural development.
Mr Soulet observed that Ghana was poised to lead the continent of Africa in the new ICT industry.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
DON'T RAISE HOPES OF GHANAIANS ...On oil find (PAGE 33)
Politicians have been advised against raising the expectations of Ghanaians that the oil discovery in the country is going to solve once and for all, the unemployment situation of the youth.
This is because oil economies alone could not generate mass employment for the youth until the Government invest the oil revenue in other areas of the economy such as agriculture, the services and the manufacturing sectors to generate the needed jobs.
Prof. Andy Mckay, of the Economics Department of the University of Sussex and Overseas Development Institute, London, who delivered a paper on the impact of the Oil and Gas find on Ghana’s economy in Accra last Monday, said Ghanaians, therefore, should not expect direct poverty reduction impact because of the oil find.
The seminar was organised by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana, Legon.
The seminar was under the theme “Managing a new oil economy”.
He explained that since oil economies have weak linkage with the rest of the economy, oil could not change the economic structure of the country by providing employment to the youth.
Prof. Mckay said research had revealed that oil economies did not as a rule lead fast structural transformation of any economy.
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to desist from unrealistic expectations in relation to the discovery, since the find, if not properly managed, could provide incentive for corruption.
He said the possibilities of the Government striking cosy relationship with oil companies at the expense of the suffering masses was high, as research in many African countries had revealed.
He, however, said Ghana being a democratic country, as well as a resource-rich state, had had some negotiating experiences, adding that the activities of civil society was required to hold the Government accountable, and operate a transparent system to check corruption in the oil economy.
He said in an oil economy, the Government should use more revenue from the oil find to finance other sectors of the economy so as to provide jobs create the necessary competition in other areas of the economy.
He explained that another curse of the oil find was the likelihood that the Government would abandon its traditional sources of revenue and only concentrate on the oil revenue for the development of the economy.
He said because oil was a finite resource that could be depleted, the Government found itself with no other alternatives of making money when oil prices went down and all grandiose projects immediately became abandoned.
Prof. Mckay advised the Government to spend more on rural development and agriculture to avoid the ‘Dutch disease’ when Holland discovered gas and abandoned its manufacturing sector.
This is because oil economies alone could not generate mass employment for the youth until the Government invest the oil revenue in other areas of the economy such as agriculture, the services and the manufacturing sectors to generate the needed jobs.
Prof. Andy Mckay, of the Economics Department of the University of Sussex and Overseas Development Institute, London, who delivered a paper on the impact of the Oil and Gas find on Ghana’s economy in Accra last Monday, said Ghanaians, therefore, should not expect direct poverty reduction impact because of the oil find.
The seminar was organised by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana, Legon.
The seminar was under the theme “Managing a new oil economy”.
He explained that since oil economies have weak linkage with the rest of the economy, oil could not change the economic structure of the country by providing employment to the youth.
Prof. Mckay said research had revealed that oil economies did not as a rule lead fast structural transformation of any economy.
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to desist from unrealistic expectations in relation to the discovery, since the find, if not properly managed, could provide incentive for corruption.
He said the possibilities of the Government striking cosy relationship with oil companies at the expense of the suffering masses was high, as research in many African countries had revealed.
He, however, said Ghana being a democratic country, as well as a resource-rich state, had had some negotiating experiences, adding that the activities of civil society was required to hold the Government accountable, and operate a transparent system to check corruption in the oil economy.
He said in an oil economy, the Government should use more revenue from the oil find to finance other sectors of the economy so as to provide jobs create the necessary competition in other areas of the economy.
He explained that another curse of the oil find was the likelihood that the Government would abandon its traditional sources of revenue and only concentrate on the oil revenue for the development of the economy.
He said because oil was a finite resource that could be depleted, the Government found itself with no other alternatives of making money when oil prices went down and all grandiose projects immediately became abandoned.
Prof. Mckay advised the Government to spend more on rural development and agriculture to avoid the ‘Dutch disease’ when Holland discovered gas and abandoned its manufacturing sector.
MAKE ISSUANCE OF BUILDING PERMITS SIMPLE (PAGE 14)
NII Armah Ashitey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, has called for the simplification of issuance of building permits to reduce corruption.
He alleged that the state lost GH¢300,000 (¢3 billion old cedis) through under-invoicing of building permits perpetrated by a head of department of a municipal assembly in the Greater Accra Region.
The officer, whose name is being withheld, is under investigation for allegedly issuing a building permit of ¢2 billion instead of ¢5 billion for 17 storey buildings in his municipality.
Nii Ashitey made the allegation at the first ordinary session of the Ga West Municipal Assembly last Friday.
He said the restructuring of the issuance of building permits to make the process simple would eliminate corruption and encourage more people to apply for building permits thereby reducing unauthorised structures.
The Regional Minister noted that the three months land developers had to wait to obtain approval for building permits was not good enough and explained that it should be possible for prospective developers to obtain the permits within, at least, a month.
He advised staff of assemblies in the region to desist from conniving with developers to build unauthorised structures and cautioned that those caught would be sanctioned.
He said there was a lot of revenue generating items such as property rate, development permits, fees and fines and a host of others that the assemblies could rely on to generate the required revenue.
Nii Ashitey, therefore, urged the assemblies in the region not to rely only on the District Assemblies Common Fund but evolve innovative strategies to generate enough revenue for development.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Ga West, Mr Armah Tachie, said as of June, this year, the assembly had collected GH¢332,054.61 out of a projected revenue of GH¢1,067,647.50 representing 31.1 per cent of the total budget for 2009.
He said within the same period last year the assembly realised GH¢373,589.87 out of the projected revenue of GH¢1,270,163.00 representing 29.41 per cent of the total projection.
He said the assembly had put in place a number of long-term measures to improve revenue mobilisation for next year and into the future.
Mr Tachie said the measures included the completion of the collection of data on all properties and businesses operating within the municipality and the revaluation of all properties would be completed by the end of the year to ensure realistic budget for the ensuing year.
He alleged that the state lost GH¢300,000 (¢3 billion old cedis) through under-invoicing of building permits perpetrated by a head of department of a municipal assembly in the Greater Accra Region.
The officer, whose name is being withheld, is under investigation for allegedly issuing a building permit of ¢2 billion instead of ¢5 billion for 17 storey buildings in his municipality.
Nii Ashitey made the allegation at the first ordinary session of the Ga West Municipal Assembly last Friday.
He said the restructuring of the issuance of building permits to make the process simple would eliminate corruption and encourage more people to apply for building permits thereby reducing unauthorised structures.
The Regional Minister noted that the three months land developers had to wait to obtain approval for building permits was not good enough and explained that it should be possible for prospective developers to obtain the permits within, at least, a month.
He advised staff of assemblies in the region to desist from conniving with developers to build unauthorised structures and cautioned that those caught would be sanctioned.
He said there was a lot of revenue generating items such as property rate, development permits, fees and fines and a host of others that the assemblies could rely on to generate the required revenue.
Nii Ashitey, therefore, urged the assemblies in the region not to rely only on the District Assemblies Common Fund but evolve innovative strategies to generate enough revenue for development.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Ga West, Mr Armah Tachie, said as of June, this year, the assembly had collected GH¢332,054.61 out of a projected revenue of GH¢1,067,647.50 representing 31.1 per cent of the total budget for 2009.
He said within the same period last year the assembly realised GH¢373,589.87 out of the projected revenue of GH¢1,270,163.00 representing 29.41 per cent of the total projection.
He said the assembly had put in place a number of long-term measures to improve revenue mobilisation for next year and into the future.
Mr Tachie said the measures included the completion of the collection of data on all properties and businesses operating within the municipality and the revaluation of all properties would be completed by the end of the year to ensure realistic budget for the ensuing year.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
MOWAC CONDUCTS GENDER AUDIT...In public, security services (PAGE 11)
The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) is conducting a gender audit in the public and security services to establish the number of women and men employed in the public service as well as the police and military.
The Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, who announced this at a consultative forum on the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, said the move was in line with the implementation of the resolution.
The resolution, which tasks UN Systems and member states to ensure that gender considerations are thoroughly integrated into all aspects of its security platform from conflict prevention to post-conflict reconstruction, was unanimously adopted by the Security Council in October 2000.
She said the audit would guide the government in recruiting a fair percentage of men and women in the public and security services.
Ms Dansua said the resolution recognised the disproportionate effect of armed conflict on women, children and other vulnerable groups and the need to involve women in the prevention and management of sustainable peace and development.
She explained that even though Ghana had not experienced armed conflict, the country had witnessed pockets of violence land and chieftaincy conflicts in some parts of the country, to which women and children were the most vulnerable.
She said in all these instances, even though women might not have played any major role in engineering the conflicts, they were among the worst affected and bore the brunt of rape and other gender-based violence in conflict situations.
Ms Dansua said it was in this direction that the UN Security Council came up with the resolution aimed at encouraging member states to draw up specific national plans of action for its implementation.
She said Ghana had already signed and adopted the Resolution, in addition to some specific action taken on issues relating to peace and security.
She said, for example, that Ghana had made tremendous contributions to maintaining peace and security on the continent by sending soldiers and police on peace-keeping missions of the UN and other African regions.
She said as the UN resolution required, Ghana had increased the percentage of female contributing to peace-keeping operations from zero to 11.5 per cent, as well as embarking on recruitment exercises to increase participation of women in peace keeping missions.
Furthermore, the minister said that training had been provided on the prevention of violence and response to sexual and gender- based violence to the refugee community through patrols by the police personnel and members of the neighbourhood watch teams under the auspices of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees programme.
Ms Dansua explained that gender audit was part of the positive developments in the Ghana Police Service and the military for the development of Ghana’s Action Plan on the implementation of the Security Council Resolution 1325.
The Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, who announced this at a consultative forum on the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, said the move was in line with the implementation of the resolution.
The resolution, which tasks UN Systems and member states to ensure that gender considerations are thoroughly integrated into all aspects of its security platform from conflict prevention to post-conflict reconstruction, was unanimously adopted by the Security Council in October 2000.
She said the audit would guide the government in recruiting a fair percentage of men and women in the public and security services.
Ms Dansua said the resolution recognised the disproportionate effect of armed conflict on women, children and other vulnerable groups and the need to involve women in the prevention and management of sustainable peace and development.
She explained that even though Ghana had not experienced armed conflict, the country had witnessed pockets of violence land and chieftaincy conflicts in some parts of the country, to which women and children were the most vulnerable.
She said in all these instances, even though women might not have played any major role in engineering the conflicts, they were among the worst affected and bore the brunt of rape and other gender-based violence in conflict situations.
Ms Dansua said it was in this direction that the UN Security Council came up with the resolution aimed at encouraging member states to draw up specific national plans of action for its implementation.
She said Ghana had already signed and adopted the Resolution, in addition to some specific action taken on issues relating to peace and security.
She said, for example, that Ghana had made tremendous contributions to maintaining peace and security on the continent by sending soldiers and police on peace-keeping missions of the UN and other African regions.
She said as the UN resolution required, Ghana had increased the percentage of female contributing to peace-keeping operations from zero to 11.5 per cent, as well as embarking on recruitment exercises to increase participation of women in peace keeping missions.
Furthermore, the minister said that training had been provided on the prevention of violence and response to sexual and gender- based violence to the refugee community through patrols by the police personnel and members of the neighbourhood watch teams under the auspices of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees programme.
Ms Dansua explained that gender audit was part of the positive developments in the Ghana Police Service and the military for the development of Ghana’s Action Plan on the implementation of the Security Council Resolution 1325.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
ASHAIMAN MAKES INROADS IN DEVELOPMENT (PAGE 29)
ASHAIMAN is gradually moving away from its past image of being a centre for crime and other social vices. It has now become a lucrative business hub where multi-national banks and businesses are clamouring for space.
The community, which has been dubbed by some as ‘a place where everything is possible”, first had the Ghana Commercial Bank and the Dangme Rural Bank operating as the only financial institutions within the community.
But today, the AmalBank and the Zenith Bank are two of the other banks that have opened branches in the municipality.
The Agricultural Development Bank, Barclays Bank, Cal Bank, GT Bank, HFC Bank, Intercontinental Bank, Opportunity International, Pro-credit Bank and Unibank have branches in the municipality.
The Total Filling Station, which is located at the only traffic light in the municipality, used to be the only fuel filling station in town. However, Glory Oil, Excel, Engen and Agapet are seriously in contention in the municipality.
The old mud houses roofed with thatch are giving way to modern houses as resourceful individuals buy the old structures and turn them into huge concrete plazas.
A blossoming street market has developed in the municipality where every conceivable item, which cannot be found at the Ashaiman Market, is sold. The street market developed as a result of the population explosion in the municipality.
If you cannot find any there, then what you are looking for, perhaps, does not exist at all. From computers to electrical gadgets, groceries, used and brand new tyres, bicycles and motorbikes, designer wear to everything with a name can easily be found at this market.
Perhaps, Ghana ’s leading retail shop, Melcom, might have even counted its chicken before they were hatched. Even before its official opening, residents often besieged the frontage of the shop, awaiting a grand opening for them to do their shopping there.
As I went through the town one Saturday sourcing for news for this write-up, one thing that caught my fancy was security. Some residents in the past had accused the police within the community of not protecting their interests.
But security has been a top priority for these banks operating within the town.
This, in fact, motivated me to meet with the then Divisional Commander, Chief Supt Boadu-Peperah, to find out the level of security preparedness in the densely populated community. He explained that although the municipal police command was somewhat constrained in terms of logistics and personnel, they were doing their best.
Chief Superintendent Boadu-Pepera said the command was on top of the issue and happy to say that so far there has not been any security breaches in any of the banks.
It is surprising how a wide range of businesses and commercial activities within the municipality could sping up within a relatively short period and which has brought employment to many residents and such surrounding communities as Michel Camp, Kakasunanka No 1&2, Katamanso, Bethlehem, Lashibi, Sakumono and Tema.
In spite of all the commerce and the sprawling businesses, vehicular traffic and population explosion, sanitation remain a challenge. Other challenges are bad road network, limited health facilities, poor drainage systems, and lack of places of convenience. Checks revealed that Ashaima currently has an estimated population of about 250,000, showing an increase of 50,000 since the last census was held in 2000.
The municipal chief executive put the present population density at 4,500 people per square kilometre.
The community, however, has only one government health facility which was recently upgraded into a polyclinic to take care of the health needs of the people.
There are only 21 public places of conveniences serving the entire population. Very often residents have to queue to get the chance to attend to the call of nature. Those who refuse to join the queue resort to the use of plastic bags which they often throw into thickets and drains bringing to the fore, the need for households to construct individual places of convinience.
As a result of the high patronage of the places of convenience by residents, managing existing facilities has become lucrative business ventures and functionaries of the two major political parties in the country have resorted to forceful takeover actions in order to run them.
For commuters to and from Accra and Tema, as well as those who transit through the community to other regions, travelling through Ashaiman can be a nightmare.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Numo Adinortey Addison, in a recent address, gave a promise to decongest the municipality to make way for various construction works to begin.
Outlining his development agenda for the municipality, the MCE said the disputed ‘Kufuor’ Station would be developed into a modern complex, with offices, supermarkets and car parks as part of the assembly’s development plan. He further indicated that the Ashaiman Market would be modernised to create a clean environment and also provide adequate lighting system to improve security in the municipality.
Mr Numo said he was in touch with the traditional authorities for the release of lands to embark on the building of an additional senior high school, a polytechnic, university and a sports stadium at Ashaiman.
As the government of the day has given a pledge to turn all urban slums into clean settlements, one would only make a humble appeal to the authorities to take major steps in re-branding the municipality as it has a lot of potential.
The community, which has been dubbed by some as ‘a place where everything is possible”, first had the Ghana Commercial Bank and the Dangme Rural Bank operating as the only financial institutions within the community.
But today, the AmalBank and the Zenith Bank are two of the other banks that have opened branches in the municipality.
The Agricultural Development Bank, Barclays Bank, Cal Bank, GT Bank, HFC Bank, Intercontinental Bank, Opportunity International, Pro-credit Bank and Unibank have branches in the municipality.
The Total Filling Station, which is located at the only traffic light in the municipality, used to be the only fuel filling station in town. However, Glory Oil, Excel, Engen and Agapet are seriously in contention in the municipality.
The old mud houses roofed with thatch are giving way to modern houses as resourceful individuals buy the old structures and turn them into huge concrete plazas.
A blossoming street market has developed in the municipality where every conceivable item, which cannot be found at the Ashaiman Market, is sold. The street market developed as a result of the population explosion in the municipality.
If you cannot find any there, then what you are looking for, perhaps, does not exist at all. From computers to electrical gadgets, groceries, used and brand new tyres, bicycles and motorbikes, designer wear to everything with a name can easily be found at this market.
Perhaps, Ghana ’s leading retail shop, Melcom, might have even counted its chicken before they were hatched. Even before its official opening, residents often besieged the frontage of the shop, awaiting a grand opening for them to do their shopping there.
As I went through the town one Saturday sourcing for news for this write-up, one thing that caught my fancy was security. Some residents in the past had accused the police within the community of not protecting their interests.
But security has been a top priority for these banks operating within the town.
This, in fact, motivated me to meet with the then Divisional Commander, Chief Supt Boadu-Peperah, to find out the level of security preparedness in the densely populated community. He explained that although the municipal police command was somewhat constrained in terms of logistics and personnel, they were doing their best.
Chief Superintendent Boadu-Pepera said the command was on top of the issue and happy to say that so far there has not been any security breaches in any of the banks.
It is surprising how a wide range of businesses and commercial activities within the municipality could sping up within a relatively short period and which has brought employment to many residents and such surrounding communities as Michel Camp, Kakasunanka No 1&2, Katamanso, Bethlehem, Lashibi, Sakumono and Tema.
In spite of all the commerce and the sprawling businesses, vehicular traffic and population explosion, sanitation remain a challenge. Other challenges are bad road network, limited health facilities, poor drainage systems, and lack of places of convenience. Checks revealed that Ashaima currently has an estimated population of about 250,000, showing an increase of 50,000 since the last census was held in 2000.
The municipal chief executive put the present population density at 4,500 people per square kilometre.
The community, however, has only one government health facility which was recently upgraded into a polyclinic to take care of the health needs of the people.
There are only 21 public places of conveniences serving the entire population. Very often residents have to queue to get the chance to attend to the call of nature. Those who refuse to join the queue resort to the use of plastic bags which they often throw into thickets and drains bringing to the fore, the need for households to construct individual places of convinience.
As a result of the high patronage of the places of convenience by residents, managing existing facilities has become lucrative business ventures and functionaries of the two major political parties in the country have resorted to forceful takeover actions in order to run them.
For commuters to and from Accra and Tema, as well as those who transit through the community to other regions, travelling through Ashaiman can be a nightmare.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Numo Adinortey Addison, in a recent address, gave a promise to decongest the municipality to make way for various construction works to begin.
Outlining his development agenda for the municipality, the MCE said the disputed ‘Kufuor’ Station would be developed into a modern complex, with offices, supermarkets and car parks as part of the assembly’s development plan. He further indicated that the Ashaiman Market would be modernised to create a clean environment and also provide adequate lighting system to improve security in the municipality.
Mr Numo said he was in touch with the traditional authorities for the release of lands to embark on the building of an additional senior high school, a polytechnic, university and a sports stadium at Ashaiman.
As the government of the day has given a pledge to turn all urban slums into clean settlements, one would only make a humble appeal to the authorities to take major steps in re-branding the municipality as it has a lot of potential.
PREZ DIRECTS MDAS TO SET UP AUDIT C'TTEES (PAGE 31)
The President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has directed ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to establish functional Audit Report Implementation Committees by the end of this year.
That is to ensure that all outstanding internal and external audit recommendations are implemented by the same period.
The President gave the directive in a speech read on his behalf by a Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Tekper, at the 4th Annual Internal Audit Forum held in Accra yesterday.
The President also charged the Public Services Commission, the Head of the Civil Service and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to work together to ensure an effective performance management system in public and civil service.
In that regard, the President said all chief executives ought to ensure that performance agreements were also signed by all staff of MDAs and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) by March next year to ensure that national programme objectives were achieved with utmost efficiency.
Prof. Mills also ordered that periodic reports from the Public Services Commission, the office of the Head of the Civil Service and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development on the performance of Chief Directors and Chief Executives, as well as other heads of MDAs and MMDAs, should reach his office.
He called on the Internal Audit Agency not to relent in its efforts at ensuring that public sector institutions met their performance targets through a continuous system of internal auditing of the public sector.
He deplored the situation where a number of heads of public institutions had not yet signed their performance agreements, and urged them to do so without further delay.
He commended the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) for setting a good example by ensuring that not only the directors but also the managers and assistant managers of the agency had signed their performance agreements and dared other public servants to emulate that example.
The President announced that a comprehensive salary and pension scheme related to performance was being worked out for public servants to improve condition of service, as well as rectify distortions in the current salary structure and make provision for comfortable retirement.
He said by early 2010, the single spine salary structure was expected to become operational, and there would no longer be a reason to excuse public servants for a lack of performance, absenteeism, misuse of public time and resources and low morale and poor remuneration.
Prof. Mills, therefore, urged the over 600 public and civil servants drawn from all the regions for the forum to devise strategies to implement the recommendations to bring about the desired change.
Mr Patrick Nomo, Director-General of IAA, said this year’s forum was aimed at ensuring that plans, goals and objectives of MDA’s and MMDAs were achieved with effectiveness and efficiency.
He said in the five years of the Internal Audit Agency’s work, some weaknesses had run through its findings in respect of MDAs and MMDAs reported in the agency’s annual report to the President.
Mr Nomo said these weaknesses included inadequate records management, poor accounting for revenues due and collected, as well as the improper use of internally generated funds and non-preparation of bank reconciliation statements.
The others, Mr Nomo said, were non-compliance with regulations and executive directives, inadequate safeguards and management of national assets, absence of structured risk management and inadequate financial accounting and reporting.
That is to ensure that all outstanding internal and external audit recommendations are implemented by the same period.
The President gave the directive in a speech read on his behalf by a Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Tekper, at the 4th Annual Internal Audit Forum held in Accra yesterday.
The President also charged the Public Services Commission, the Head of the Civil Service and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to work together to ensure an effective performance management system in public and civil service.
In that regard, the President said all chief executives ought to ensure that performance agreements were also signed by all staff of MDAs and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) by March next year to ensure that national programme objectives were achieved with utmost efficiency.
Prof. Mills also ordered that periodic reports from the Public Services Commission, the office of the Head of the Civil Service and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development on the performance of Chief Directors and Chief Executives, as well as other heads of MDAs and MMDAs, should reach his office.
He called on the Internal Audit Agency not to relent in its efforts at ensuring that public sector institutions met their performance targets through a continuous system of internal auditing of the public sector.
He deplored the situation where a number of heads of public institutions had not yet signed their performance agreements, and urged them to do so without further delay.
He commended the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) for setting a good example by ensuring that not only the directors but also the managers and assistant managers of the agency had signed their performance agreements and dared other public servants to emulate that example.
The President announced that a comprehensive salary and pension scheme related to performance was being worked out for public servants to improve condition of service, as well as rectify distortions in the current salary structure and make provision for comfortable retirement.
He said by early 2010, the single spine salary structure was expected to become operational, and there would no longer be a reason to excuse public servants for a lack of performance, absenteeism, misuse of public time and resources and low morale and poor remuneration.
Prof. Mills, therefore, urged the over 600 public and civil servants drawn from all the regions for the forum to devise strategies to implement the recommendations to bring about the desired change.
Mr Patrick Nomo, Director-General of IAA, said this year’s forum was aimed at ensuring that plans, goals and objectives of MDA’s and MMDAs were achieved with effectiveness and efficiency.
He said in the five years of the Internal Audit Agency’s work, some weaknesses had run through its findings in respect of MDAs and MMDAs reported in the agency’s annual report to the President.
Mr Nomo said these weaknesses included inadequate records management, poor accounting for revenues due and collected, as well as the improper use of internally generated funds and non-preparation of bank reconciliation statements.
The others, Mr Nomo said, were non-compliance with regulations and executive directives, inadequate safeguards and management of national assets, absence of structured risk management and inadequate financial accounting and reporting.
Monday, August 17, 2009
INDIA MARKS DAY (PAGE 47)
A flag-raising ceremony to mark the 63rd independence day anniversary of India was held in Accra on Saturday.
A number of Indian citizens in Ghana who patronised the ceremony sang the Indian national anthem before they heard the speech of President Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil.
The President called on Indian communities worldwide to embrace peaceful co-existence in the interest of the collective goal of humankind.
President Patil reminded the Indian community of the freedom struggle of India, saying it was based on the noble principles of secularism, equality and respect for all religions.
Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam, the High Commissioner of India to Ghana, who read a speech on behalf of the President of India, called on Indians of every religion, such as Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Parsees and all others to live together in harmony.
The President said terrorism which targeted innocent people was the very anti-thesis of peaceful co-existence and it was condemnable because it was against the tenets of every religion and faith.
She said India had struggled since the first war of independence in 1857 against the forces largely created by a divide and rule policy which was aimed at defeating the unity of the country.
President Smt Patil said communal harmony was important for the progress of India and urged the nationals to fight against violence and extremism and become an important part of promoting peace in the world.
She noted that if Indians chose to be bound by the feelings of hatred, mistrust and apathy, the country would never move forward, saying that Indians ought to build a strong, united and progressive India for their future generations as well as a peaceful world.
She said the four essential pillars necessary to support the edifice of India had been democracy, inclusive economic development, social empowerment and a value system based on civilisation and the heritage of coexistence.
The President said the expectations of the people were rising as they were becoming more aware of their rights and seeking better opportunities.
She said facilities, amenities and services meant for them whether they were living in rural or urban areas could be delivered smoothly only if there was an effective governance system that was less cumbersome but more transparent and accountable.
She noted that there would be outrage when money meant for welfare schemes was pilfered out by corrupt practices.
She said the flagship programmes of the Indian Government were, therefore, comprehensive ranging from health to education, employment to expanding social and economic infrastructure.
President Patil said their implementation would have to be at optimal levels for an impact to be made on the lives of people, hence the emphasis on reform of governance for effective delivery of public services critical to changing the lives of the masses of people in India and the world in general.
A number of Indian citizens in Ghana who patronised the ceremony sang the Indian national anthem before they heard the speech of President Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil.
The President called on Indian communities worldwide to embrace peaceful co-existence in the interest of the collective goal of humankind.
President Patil reminded the Indian community of the freedom struggle of India, saying it was based on the noble principles of secularism, equality and respect for all religions.
Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam, the High Commissioner of India to Ghana, who read a speech on behalf of the President of India, called on Indians of every religion, such as Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Parsees and all others to live together in harmony.
The President said terrorism which targeted innocent people was the very anti-thesis of peaceful co-existence and it was condemnable because it was against the tenets of every religion and faith.
She said India had struggled since the first war of independence in 1857 against the forces largely created by a divide and rule policy which was aimed at defeating the unity of the country.
President Smt Patil said communal harmony was important for the progress of India and urged the nationals to fight against violence and extremism and become an important part of promoting peace in the world.
She noted that if Indians chose to be bound by the feelings of hatred, mistrust and apathy, the country would never move forward, saying that Indians ought to build a strong, united and progressive India for their future generations as well as a peaceful world.
She said the four essential pillars necessary to support the edifice of India had been democracy, inclusive economic development, social empowerment and a value system based on civilisation and the heritage of coexistence.
The President said the expectations of the people were rising as they were becoming more aware of their rights and seeking better opportunities.
She said facilities, amenities and services meant for them whether they were living in rural or urban areas could be delivered smoothly only if there was an effective governance system that was less cumbersome but more transparent and accountable.
She noted that there would be outrage when money meant for welfare schemes was pilfered out by corrupt practices.
She said the flagship programmes of the Indian Government were, therefore, comprehensive ranging from health to education, employment to expanding social and economic infrastructure.
President Patil said their implementation would have to be at optimal levels for an impact to be made on the lives of people, hence the emphasis on reform of governance for effective delivery of public services critical to changing the lives of the masses of people in India and the world in general.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
HELP BOOST TRADE BETWEEN GHANA AND EGYPT (PAGE 29)
A Minister of State at the Presidency, Mr Alhassan Azong, has called on Ghanaian entrepreneurs to take up the challenge to boost trade between Ghana and Egypt.
Currently the level of trade between the two countries is $150 million in favour of Egypt.
The Minister of State, who made the appeal at the National Day Reception of the Arab Republic of Egypt, said the level of economic co-operation and commercial exchanges between the two countries had also increased considerably in recent times.
He said the relationship between the two nations dated back to the pre-independence era and Egypt was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Ghana when the nation attained independence.
He also observed that the cordial relations between the two countries were further strengthened when the two countries became members of the Cassablanca block in the struggle to preserve freedom, unity and integrity of the African people against the forces factionalism and neo-colonialism that threatened the continent.
Mr Azong said their efforts eventually led to the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union.
He said Ghana, over the years, continued to receive various forms of assistance from Egypt through the Bilateral Technical Co-operation Agreement signed by the two countries in 1984 and renewed in 1998.
He said the assistance came in the form of provision of doctors, teachers and training courses in agriculture, diplomacy, health, policing, nursing, cotton production and geology for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Mr Azong said in recent times the collaboration between the Egyptian Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana Chamber of Commerce had increased considerably, thereby boosting trade between the two nations.
The Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Seif Allah Mostafa Nosseir, in a welcome address, said since the commencement of the 50-year historical relationship between Ghana and Egypt, both countries had shared common goals, targets and policies.
He said Egypt was proud of Ghana for the peaceful transition of power for the second time in eight years and that it was worthy to mention that President Hosni Mubarak was among the first group of leaders to extend their congratulations to the President Prof. John Evans Atta Mills.
Ambassador Nosseir gave the assurance that the Egyptian Fund for Technical Co-operation with Africa was doing its best to implement the bilateral co-operation agreement within its framework.
Currently the level of trade between the two countries is $150 million in favour of Egypt.
The Minister of State, who made the appeal at the National Day Reception of the Arab Republic of Egypt, said the level of economic co-operation and commercial exchanges between the two countries had also increased considerably in recent times.
He said the relationship between the two nations dated back to the pre-independence era and Egypt was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Ghana when the nation attained independence.
He also observed that the cordial relations between the two countries were further strengthened when the two countries became members of the Cassablanca block in the struggle to preserve freedom, unity and integrity of the African people against the forces factionalism and neo-colonialism that threatened the continent.
Mr Azong said their efforts eventually led to the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union.
He said Ghana, over the years, continued to receive various forms of assistance from Egypt through the Bilateral Technical Co-operation Agreement signed by the two countries in 1984 and renewed in 1998.
He said the assistance came in the form of provision of doctors, teachers and training courses in agriculture, diplomacy, health, policing, nursing, cotton production and geology for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Mr Azong said in recent times the collaboration between the Egyptian Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana Chamber of Commerce had increased considerably, thereby boosting trade between the two nations.
The Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Seif Allah Mostafa Nosseir, in a welcome address, said since the commencement of the 50-year historical relationship between Ghana and Egypt, both countries had shared common goals, targets and policies.
He said Egypt was proud of Ghana for the peaceful transition of power for the second time in eight years and that it was worthy to mention that President Hosni Mubarak was among the first group of leaders to extend their congratulations to the President Prof. John Evans Atta Mills.
Ambassador Nosseir gave the assurance that the Egyptian Fund for Technical Co-operation with Africa was doing its best to implement the bilateral co-operation agreement within its framework.
WORKSHOP ON NUCLEAR SAFETY OPENS (PAGE 31)
A four-day workshop designed for the physical protection of nuclear and radioactive material and facilities opened in Accra yesterday.
Twenty-five participants drawn from nuclear facilities in and around Africa are attending the regional workshop jointly organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission.
Currently there are more than 4,000 workplaces such as hospitals, mines, engineering facilities and the agro-processing sectors where radioactive materials are constantly in use in the processes.
The National Security Co-ordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey, who opened the workshop, stressed the need for the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and the National Security Council to work together to respond in a timely and professional manner to accidents involving exposure of nuclear and radioactive materials in the country.
Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey explained that the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) global efforts at assisting countries to combat sabotage and malicious acts involving nuclear and radioactive materials required that the state and international organisations worked together to make nuclear materials secure and safe.
He reiterated the government’s stand on the acquisition of the requisite knowledge in the development and application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Deputy National Security Co-ordinator, Mr Edzi Golo Kosivi-Degear, said apart from accidents involving the use of nuclear and radioactive materials, some rogues could engage in acts involving sabotage and theft of nuclear materials with devastating effects on lives and property.
He said the state and the GAEC should be in a position to guard against such acts of sabotage and theft by putting in place measures to detect such acts at workplaces which posed danger to lives.
He said the workshop was, therefore, designed to provide a basic understanding of the physical protection, as well as to demonstrate a systematic methodology to evaluate physical protection systems for nuclear facilities.
Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey said co-ordination among the authorities in charge of nuclear security functions was paramount for the establishment and operation of an effective regulatory control programme.
The National Security Co-ordinator noted that Ghana, which aspired to become a nuclear energy user, had to step up the training of its workforce on the dynamic trends of nuclear energy for the socio-economic development of the country.
Prof. Yaw Serfor Armah, the Deputy Director-General of GAEC, said the number of nuclear security workshops organised this year demonstrated global efforts aimed at combating malicious acts involving nuclear and radioactive materials and the threat posed to lives and property.
Twenty-five participants drawn from nuclear facilities in and around Africa are attending the regional workshop jointly organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission.
Currently there are more than 4,000 workplaces such as hospitals, mines, engineering facilities and the agro-processing sectors where radioactive materials are constantly in use in the processes.
The National Security Co-ordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey, who opened the workshop, stressed the need for the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and the National Security Council to work together to respond in a timely and professional manner to accidents involving exposure of nuclear and radioactive materials in the country.
Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey explained that the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) global efforts at assisting countries to combat sabotage and malicious acts involving nuclear and radioactive materials required that the state and international organisations worked together to make nuclear materials secure and safe.
He reiterated the government’s stand on the acquisition of the requisite knowledge in the development and application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Deputy National Security Co-ordinator, Mr Edzi Golo Kosivi-Degear, said apart from accidents involving the use of nuclear and radioactive materials, some rogues could engage in acts involving sabotage and theft of nuclear materials with devastating effects on lives and property.
He said the state and the GAEC should be in a position to guard against such acts of sabotage and theft by putting in place measures to detect such acts at workplaces which posed danger to lives.
He said the workshop was, therefore, designed to provide a basic understanding of the physical protection, as well as to demonstrate a systematic methodology to evaluate physical protection systems for nuclear facilities.
Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey said co-ordination among the authorities in charge of nuclear security functions was paramount for the establishment and operation of an effective regulatory control programme.
The National Security Co-ordinator noted that Ghana, which aspired to become a nuclear energy user, had to step up the training of its workforce on the dynamic trends of nuclear energy for the socio-economic development of the country.
Prof. Yaw Serfor Armah, the Deputy Director-General of GAEC, said the number of nuclear security workshops organised this year demonstrated global efforts aimed at combating malicious acts involving nuclear and radioactive materials and the threat posed to lives and property.
Monday, August 10, 2009
MINISTRY MOVES TO ELIMINATE MALARIA (PAGE 3)
THE Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), are studying the possibility of using sterile insect technique for the control of mosquito population and the eventual elimination of malaria in the country.
This is due to the successful application of the sterile insect technique in the control of insect pests and vectors of disease in agriculture and health delivery in the country.
The Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Omane Boamah, who announced this, said the application of science and technology at all levels of society was key to the elimination of poverty and disease towards a sustainable wealth creation.
He said sterile insect technique for control of insect pests deserved special attention because of its potential of controlling mosquito population in the country.
Dr Boamah, who opened a five-day international workshop on safe operation of radiation processing facilities organised by GAEC and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Accra, said despite the fact that the application of radiation processing technology would lead to the improvement of food security and healthcare delivery, it was yet to be exploited on a large scale, since it was an underutilised technology in the country.
The deputy minister, whose speech was read on his behalf by Prof. J. H. Amuasi, the Co-ordinator of School of Allied Sciences, challenged GAEC to speed up the transfer of the technology to the private sector for its maximum benefits, especially in the agro-processing and health and exports sectors, to be derived.
He said the transfer of the technology to the public domain ought to be done alongside the development and implementation of regulatory strategies and programmes that would ensure the safety and protection of workers, members of the public, properties and the environment.
Dr Boamah said his ministry recognised the pioneering role of the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) in developing the national biosafety framework to regulate the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in the country.
Prof. Josephine Nketsia-Tabiri, the Director of BNARI, who delivered the welcoming address, said the institute was in the process of upgrading its radiation processing facilities for agricultural, health and industrial research with funds of GH¢20,000 from the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF).
She appealed to the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology to speed up the passing into law of the national biosafety regulatory framework to enable field trials to begin in the country for the development of high-yielding and disease-resistant seeds for farmers in the country.
She said because there was no law presently on biosafety, activities of farmers and importers of GMO products, especially with regard to safety standards, were going on unchecked.
Prof. Nketsia-Tabiri said with the promulgation of the law, researchers could undertake field trials to ascertain the effects of GMO seeds on the environment and measures required to control their impact on the environment, as well as their safety for the general public.
This is due to the successful application of the sterile insect technique in the control of insect pests and vectors of disease in agriculture and health delivery in the country.
The Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Omane Boamah, who announced this, said the application of science and technology at all levels of society was key to the elimination of poverty and disease towards a sustainable wealth creation.
He said sterile insect technique for control of insect pests deserved special attention because of its potential of controlling mosquito population in the country.
Dr Boamah, who opened a five-day international workshop on safe operation of radiation processing facilities organised by GAEC and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Accra, said despite the fact that the application of radiation processing technology would lead to the improvement of food security and healthcare delivery, it was yet to be exploited on a large scale, since it was an underutilised technology in the country.
The deputy minister, whose speech was read on his behalf by Prof. J. H. Amuasi, the Co-ordinator of School of Allied Sciences, challenged GAEC to speed up the transfer of the technology to the private sector for its maximum benefits, especially in the agro-processing and health and exports sectors, to be derived.
He said the transfer of the technology to the public domain ought to be done alongside the development and implementation of regulatory strategies and programmes that would ensure the safety and protection of workers, members of the public, properties and the environment.
Dr Boamah said his ministry recognised the pioneering role of the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) in developing the national biosafety framework to regulate the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in the country.
Prof. Josephine Nketsia-Tabiri, the Director of BNARI, who delivered the welcoming address, said the institute was in the process of upgrading its radiation processing facilities for agricultural, health and industrial research with funds of GH¢20,000 from the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF).
She appealed to the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology to speed up the passing into law of the national biosafety regulatory framework to enable field trials to begin in the country for the development of high-yielding and disease-resistant seeds for farmers in the country.
She said because there was no law presently on biosafety, activities of farmers and importers of GMO products, especially with regard to safety standards, were going on unchecked.
Prof. Nketsia-Tabiri said with the promulgation of the law, researchers could undertake field trials to ascertain the effects of GMO seeds on the environment and measures required to control their impact on the environment, as well as their safety for the general public.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
SOEs MUST WAKE UP...Dr Kwabena Dufuor charges (LEAD STORY)
THE Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, has charged the management of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to devise innovative strategies to enable them to contribute their quota to the Consolidated Fund through the regular payment of dividend to the government.
He bemoaned the fact that while the government had programmed to receive GH¢15 million from investments in both joint venture companies and SOEs for this year, only GH¢5.2 million of the amount had so far been received.
Dr Duffuor was speaking at the signing of performance contracts between the government, on one hand, and board chairmen and chief executives of 32 SOEs, on the other, in Accra yesterday.
The ceremony was also witnessed by sector ministers and deputy ministers.
The Finance Minister singled out the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) as the only SOE to have paid dividend this year and commended the board and the management of the GCGL for their exemplary perfomance and leadership.
He noted that the State had entrusted huge amounts of investment into the care of boards and management of SOEs and expected adequate returns on that investment, explaining that if all the SOEs were performing creditably, the government would not look for external assistance for the budget.
Dr Duffuor gave the assurance that the government’s prudent macroeconomic policies were beginning to bear fruits, as inflation and the depreciation of the cedi had been minimised.
He said the fact that some SOEs were set up to provide social services and deliver quality services to the people did not absolve them from the responsibility of using resources judiciously and maintaining financial sustainability.
The Finance Minister, therefore, called on enterprises such as the Ghana Water Company, the Electricity Company and others providing such important services to take up the challenge to deliver efficient and quality services.
He said records of the past four years revealed that out of the 28 SOEs which signed performance contracts, only three paid dividends annually.
He said those enterprises were the GCGL, the Precious Minerals Marketing Company and the Ghana Supply Company Limited.
Dr Duffuor said some SOEs were in very weak financial positions, saying that the government would examine each case on its own merit for the provision of the needed resources to enable them to deliver on their mandate.
He said the government was aware of the numerous challenges that confronted a number of SOEs, including obsolete equipment, liquidity problems, as well as access to credit.
He urged the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) to set up a comprehensive database of all SOEs so that quarterly consolidated reports could be prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for the purposes of monitoring and evaluating performance.
He assured the SEC that his ministry would provide the necessary support to enable it to closely monitor the performance contracts signed by the SOEs.
The Finance Minister said since SOEs were potential sources of fiscal risk, it was important that the government systematically and frequently monitored their operations and reported to the public with enough evidence that the risks were properly evaluated and mitigated.
The acting Executive Chairman of the SEC, Mr Yaw Klinogo, urged the management of SOEs to pay particular attention to six key areas in their operations.
These, he said, were leadership and direction, culture and behaviour, systems, processes, people and governance.
He also entreated the management of SOEs to ensure the timely submission of their audited annual reports to enable the SEC to enhance its monitoring role.
Mr Klinogo was of the view that if the management of SOEs were able to instil discipline in their operations, work culture would improve and impact positively on the operations of organisations.
He bemoaned the fact that while the government had programmed to receive GH¢15 million from investments in both joint venture companies and SOEs for this year, only GH¢5.2 million of the amount had so far been received.
Dr Duffuor was speaking at the signing of performance contracts between the government, on one hand, and board chairmen and chief executives of 32 SOEs, on the other, in Accra yesterday.
The ceremony was also witnessed by sector ministers and deputy ministers.
The Finance Minister singled out the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) as the only SOE to have paid dividend this year and commended the board and the management of the GCGL for their exemplary perfomance and leadership.
He noted that the State had entrusted huge amounts of investment into the care of boards and management of SOEs and expected adequate returns on that investment, explaining that if all the SOEs were performing creditably, the government would not look for external assistance for the budget.
Dr Duffuor gave the assurance that the government’s prudent macroeconomic policies were beginning to bear fruits, as inflation and the depreciation of the cedi had been minimised.
He said the fact that some SOEs were set up to provide social services and deliver quality services to the people did not absolve them from the responsibility of using resources judiciously and maintaining financial sustainability.
The Finance Minister, therefore, called on enterprises such as the Ghana Water Company, the Electricity Company and others providing such important services to take up the challenge to deliver efficient and quality services.
He said records of the past four years revealed that out of the 28 SOEs which signed performance contracts, only three paid dividends annually.
He said those enterprises were the GCGL, the Precious Minerals Marketing Company and the Ghana Supply Company Limited.
Dr Duffuor said some SOEs were in very weak financial positions, saying that the government would examine each case on its own merit for the provision of the needed resources to enable them to deliver on their mandate.
He said the government was aware of the numerous challenges that confronted a number of SOEs, including obsolete equipment, liquidity problems, as well as access to credit.
He urged the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) to set up a comprehensive database of all SOEs so that quarterly consolidated reports could be prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for the purposes of monitoring and evaluating performance.
He assured the SEC that his ministry would provide the necessary support to enable it to closely monitor the performance contracts signed by the SOEs.
The Finance Minister said since SOEs were potential sources of fiscal risk, it was important that the government systematically and frequently monitored their operations and reported to the public with enough evidence that the risks were properly evaluated and mitigated.
The acting Executive Chairman of the SEC, Mr Yaw Klinogo, urged the management of SOEs to pay particular attention to six key areas in their operations.
These, he said, were leadership and direction, culture and behaviour, systems, processes, people and governance.
He also entreated the management of SOEs to ensure the timely submission of their audited annual reports to enable the SEC to enhance its monitoring role.
Mr Klinogo was of the view that if the management of SOEs were able to instil discipline in their operations, work culture would improve and impact positively on the operations of organisations.
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